Serrated Isolation Plug Gripper for Hard Pipe Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing test and isolation plugs face challenges in gripping and sealing pipes made of high-hardness materials, such as stainless steel and nickel-based alloys, as they require excessive force and often deform the pipe walls, leading to incomplete sealing and increased repair needs.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of serrated gripper segments with a unique profile featuring alternating rows of teeth and gaps, which reduce the force required for engagement and provide enhanced holding capacity, flexibility, and reduced material deformation, allowing for effective sealing in pipes with higher hardness levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional smooth gripper segments are used to seal pipes, then the plug can be manufactured with simple structure, but excessive force is required and pipe wall deformation occurs leading to incomplete sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper segment is divided into multiple teeth elements arranged in alternating rows, where each tooth acts as an independent gripping element. This segmentation allows the force to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated on a smooth surface, enabling effective engagement with high-hardness pipe materials at reduced overall force levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper segment features localized gripping zones at the teeth contact points rather than uniform contact across the entire segment surface. The teeth are positioned to create specific high-stress contact areas that concentrate gripping force precisely where needed to bite into the pipe wall, while gaps between teeth allow selective engagement based on local pipe geometry and hardness variations.
2Reliability
If conventional smooth gripper segments are used, then manufacturing is simpler, but pipe wall deformation occurs leading to incomplete sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper segment is divided into multiple teeth elements arranged in alternating rows, where each tooth acts as an independent gripping element. This segmentation allows the force to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated on a smooth surface, enabling effective engagement with high-hardness pipe materials at reduced overall force levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The gripper segment features localized gripping zones at the teeth contact points rather than uniform contact across the entire segment surface. The teeth are positioned to create specific high-stress contact areas that concentrate gripping force precisely where needed to bite into the pipe wall, while gaps between teeth allow selective engagement based on local pipe geometry and hardness variations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional smooth gripper segments are used, then the structure is simpler, but the plug cannot effectively grip high-hardness materials like stainless steel and nickel-based alloys
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper segment is divided into multiple teeth elements arranged in alternating rows, where each tooth acts as an independent gripping element. This segmentation allows the force to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated on a smooth surface, enabling effective engagement with high-hardness pipe materials at reduced overall force levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating rows of teeth are positioned asymmetrically to create differential engagement patterns with the pipe wall. This asymmetric arrangement allows the gripper to adapt to variations in pipe hardness and geometry, with certain teeth engaging more deeply into softer regions while others contact harder surfaces, providing versatile compatibility across different material types.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional smooth gripper segments are used, then the design is simpler, but the plug lacks flexibility in adapting to different pipe geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The gripper segment is divided into multiple teeth elements arranged in alternating rows, where each tooth acts as an independent gripping element. This segmentation allows the force to be distributed across multiple contact points rather than concentrated on a smooth surface, enabling effective engagement with high-hardness pipe materials at reduced overall force levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The alternating teeth configuration creates a dynamic engagement pattern where individual teeth can independently adjust their contact depth and angle based on local pipe geometry. This dynamic adaptability allows the gripper segment to conform to variations in pipe diameter, ovality, and surface irregularities, providing flexibility across different pipe types without requiring multiple specialized components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The serrated gripper segments enable successful high-pressure sealing in pipes with materials like stainless steel and nickel-based alloys, increasing the safety factor and service life of the plugs while minimizing damage and the need for post-test repairs.
Implementation Method 1
The gripping function is required to enable the plug to resist movement, sliding, failure, blow-out and/or leakage during testing at working pressures
Implementation Method 2
serrated gripper segments with a unique profile featuring alternating rows of teeth and gaps, which reduce the force required for engagement and provide enhanced holding capacity
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~4
Figure 3
AI summary
A gripper for a test or isolation plug (40) is provided. The gripper includes at least one gripper segment (54) having a pipe or tube confronting surface (70) with a plurality of separate rows of gripper teeth (72) longitudinally-spaced apart on the surface (70). Each of the separate rows of gripper teeth (72) comprising an alternating array of individual tips (80) and gaps (78) such that each row is serrated along its length.